If an autonomous vehicle (AV) gets into a crash in Portland, the manufacturer or software developer could be held liable for injuries and property damage. For accidents involving vehicles with self-driving mode, the responsible party could include the automaker, software developer, or the person behind the wheel at the time of the collision.
While there are currently no AVs operating in Portland Waymo is coming to the Rose City. Many locals are concerned about the potential for crashes involving these driverless robotaxis. It also raises questions about who is responsible for collisions with cars that have some form of self-driving feature. Having a good Portland car accident lawyer on your side can help with these kinds of crashes.
Let’s explore autonomous vehicle crashes, self-driving-mode collisions, and what you can do if you get hit by a vehicle on autopilot. For a free consultation with a proven auto accident lawyer here in Portland, contact our law firm today.
Key Takeaways:
- If a Waymo or other autonomous vehicle gets into a car wreck, the vehicle manufacturer or software developer could be held liable for the collision depending on the details of the crash.
- For vehicles with various self-driving modes, the automaker, the software developer, or the driver behind the wheel could be held liable for causing a collision.
- Waymo vehicles with safety drivers are currently mapping Portland’s streets. This process may take several months to complete. The City of Portland will also need to change administrative rules and issue permits before a driverless robotaxi can be tested on the road.
- Other parties could be held liable for crashes involving robotaxis or vehicles with automation, including negligent drivers who collide with AVs and state/local governments for failing to fix poor road conditions and failing to properly design roadway infrastructure.
Understanding Autonomous Vehicles and Self-Driving
Autonomous vehicles are sometimes called “self-driving” vehicles or “driverless” vehicles. Ride-hailing companies like Waymo (which is owned by Alphabet, the parent company of Google) have deployed driverless robotaxis in multiple cities across the United States.
Other companies are involved in the self-driving taxi market, such as Tesla and Amazon’s Zoox. However, Waymo is the biggest name in robotaxis at the moment.
As of now, there are no fully automated commuter vehicles available on the market. However, various automakers have designed vehicles with hands-free or automated systems to assist drivers, including Tesla (Autopilot and FSD), General Motors (Super Cruise), Ford (BlueCruise), and BMW (Personal CoPilot and Highway Assistant).
The NHTSA’s Levels of Vehicle Automation
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies six levels of automated driving/self-driving.
- Level 0 – Momentary Driver Assistance: This is when the driver receives warnings and alerts from the vehicle but remains fully in control and engaged behind the wheel. Examples include automatic emergency braking and lane departure warnings.
- Level 1 – Driver Assistance: This is when the vehicle offers continuous assistance of acceleration, braking, or steering while the driver remains fully engaged behind the wheel. Examples include cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
- Level 2 – Additional Assistance/Partial Automation: The vehicle provides continuous assistance with acceleration, braking, and steering while the driver remains engaged behind the wheel. An example of this includes Highway Pilot.
- Level 3 – Conditional Automation: The vehicle handles steering, acceleration, and braking, but the driver remains engaged and ready to take control of the vehicle when necessary.
- Level 4 – High Automation: The vehicle handles steering, acceleration, braking, and other aspects of driving within limited service areas. Vehicle occupants are simply passengers and do not need to be engaged or ready to take the wheel.
- Level 5 – Full Automation: The vehicle handles steering, acceleration, braking, and other aspects of driving. Vehicle occupants are simply passengers and do not need to be engaged or ready to take the wheel.
Waymo Announces That It’s Coming to Portland
In April 2026, Waymo officially announced it’s coming to Portland. The company had been eyeing the city since 2025. Portland is one of 21 other cities where Waymo would like to expand operations.
It remains to be seen how an autonomous vehicle will handle some of the more dangerous roads and intersections in Portland, and how these vehicles may respond to cyclists and pedestrians.
Waymo currently operates self-driving vehicles in these 11 cities:
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Nashville, TN
- Orlando, FL
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- The San Francisco Bay Area, CA
When Will Waymo Begin For-Hire Rides in Portland?
This remains to be seen. It could take some time.
As of this writing, Waymo vehicles with safety drivers are currently mapping the city. Permits will need to be obtained from the City of Portland in order to operate an AV. Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reported that Waymo typically spends several months mapping a city before they start testing driverless robotaxis.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has not issued any testing permits yet. Administrative rules will also need to be updated before any for-hire autonomous vehicles are allowed to operate in Portland.
The City of Portland’s page on automated vehicles notes that there are actually two companies that are currently mapping the Rose City:
- Waymo to help with its own robotaxis.
- General Motors to support development of the GM Super Cruise feature.
What Is the City of Portland’s Stance on Waymo and Other AVs?
According to the previously cited OPB report, the response from local policymakers is a mix of positive and negative.
In a statement, Mayor Keith Wilson expressed optimism in Waymo coming to Portland, noting that “emerging technology can transform safety for all road users.” He also noted that Waymo could help with Portland’s Vision Zero program to reduce traffic fatalities.
Other lawmakers are worried about for-hire AVs like Waymo in Portland. In a more recent report from OPB, Councilor Sameer Kanal wanted to ban driverless vehicles outright, while Councilor Mitch Green wanted to charge AV companies fees to address the displacement of labor that would affect local rideshare drivers for Uber and Lyft.
Response from Locals About Waymos in Portland
The response from Portland locals has similarly been mixed. Some people feel Waymos will be good for the city and may help reduce the dangers of drunk/intoxicated driving accidents. Others have raised concerns about the safety of Waymos and the potential for a crash.
In an interview with KATU ABC 2, Tom Stenson of Disability Rights Oregon expressed some concerns about safety and accessibility. For one, he wondered whether the robotaxis would be accessible to people who use wheelchairs or walkers. In addition, Stenton voiced concerns about the software in Waymos recognizing people in wheelchairs and with walkers as pedestrians in crosswalks.
KPTV Fox 12 interviewed Nathaniel Hudson-Hartman of Drivers Union Oregon who noted that the presence of Waymo robotaxis put rideshare driver’s livelihood at risk. He noted that in other cities with Waymos, rideshare driver earnings were down as were opportunities to pick up passengers.
Waymo Accidents in Other States
While Waymo boasts a strong safety record, there have been Waymo crashes and traffic incidents worth noting.
Waymos Making Dangerous Driving Maneuvers
According to a report from CNN, there have been hundreds of incidents in which a Waymo robotaxi made an unsafe maneuver on the road. This includes:
- Running red lights
- Failing to yield
- Changing lanes in an unsafe way
- Driving into oncoming traffic
- Braking abruptly because of a low-flying bird
- Not adapting to emergency road conditions
- Nearly hitting pedestrians (including children)
- Mistaking business signs for stop signs
There have also been videos and stories on social media from Waymo passengers who’ve been in robotaxis that drove onto light rail tracks as a train was approaching or who’ve had their vehicle stop in the middle of the road in the path of oncoming heavy traffic.
Concerns About Pedestrian Safety
CNN noted the risk of pedestrian accidents or close calls caused by Waymos. In San Francisco, the most common safety complaints about Waymos involved pedestrian safety.
According to CNN’s reporting, Waymos did not always stop for pedestrians, which included elderly pedestrians, schoolchildren (even with a crossing guard present), and people in wheelchairs.
Overseas Remote Assistance Workers for Waymo Vehicles
There are also concerns about the 70 remote assistance agents that Waymo has on-call to provide on-call advice to the 4,000 vehicles in the robotaxi fleet.
More than half of these on-call agents are based in the Philippines and are unable to take direct control of a vehicle should an issue arise. CNN notes that Waymo did not disclose how often these agents need to intervene.
No Serious Injuries Have Been Attributed to Waymo So Far
CNN noted that in reviewing almost 1,200 self-reported collisions from Waymo from January 2025 to April 2026, the driverless vehicles were not at fault in the vast majority of crashes.
CNN also noted that none of the self-reported collisions resulted in a serious injury. Yet there have been notable injuries related to Waymos.
One notable Waymo injury involved a bicycle accident. A San Francisco cyclist was doored by a Waymo that was parked next to a bike lane in a no-stopping zone. The cyclist then struck the side of another Waymo that was blocking the bike lane. She suffered spinal cord injuries and a traumatic brain injury.
CNN recounted another incident in which a 14-year-old Waymo passenger in Scottsdale, AZ got his foot trapped under the wheel of the robotaxi as he was exiting the vehicle. The Waymo would not move and needed to be lifted off the teen’s foot by emergency responders.
Contact a Portland Auto Accident Attorney About Your Situation
Waymo vehicles have not yet arrived in Portland, but it is likely only a matter of time. Autonomous and self-driving vehicles are already reshaping our roads and changing the risks faced every day by drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. As with any emerging technology, however, real-world performance may fall short of the technology’s promise of responsibility, and new challenges for those injured when the technology fails. If you’re injured by this emerging technology, Rob Kline and his team are here to help.
To discuss your case with a trusted motor vehicle accident lawyer, contact us today.
